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     Monthly Newsletter April 2003

 The Pastor’s Pen

Tuesday evening, April the 15^th, we will gather together as brothers and sisters in Christ, joined in spirit with other Christians both near and far who also recognize the significance of this evening, to participate in the holiest service of the Christian year.

Jesus Christ Himself, at His last Passover with His disciples, established a new way to partake of the Passover. As our Passover Lamb He was the fulfillment of the original Passover. The institution of the bread and the wine, often referred to as the Lord’s Supper, was initiated to impress upon all who have accepted the sacrifice of our Savior the cost of this grace. While free, it was not cheap. He submitted to the humiliation and agony of the Cross-because His selfless love for us knew no bounds.

Mark 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. (KJV)

Our Lord’s body was broken & his blood shed, dying on the cross so that we might live and carry our cross. It is imperative for Christians to partake of this Holy Night to renew our covenant with God and to do so with the gravity and sobriety fitting this memorial service.

1 Cor 10: 16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread. (NAS)

The Passover of our Lord is upon us. The Days of Unleavened Bread, exonerating us from the leaven of sin are at the door. God does not bless just to make us happy, He blesses us so that we may be a blessing to others. The Church, as the Body of Christ is not here to serve us… we are here to serve the Body the Christ! Jesus died for us, the least we can do is show up, accept this priceless gift anew by accepting the sacraments & thank Him for His selfless sacrifice. Come to the Lord’s Supper, show your love for our Savior and give thanks & praise to Jesus!

Your brother in Christ,

Jeff Booth

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

A time to give birth, and a time to die;

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to tear down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.

A time to search, and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away.

A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together;

A time to be silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time for war, and a time for peace.

So Solomon wrote, and now America finds it’s self at war. While attempting to defend and preserve our way of life our freedom, many young men and women now stand in harms way as we enjoy the comfort and freedom given as blessings to America.

I want to add to Solomon’s list of time; its time to give thanks for those who give so much to preserve the wondrous blessings God has bestowed upon us. There is a time to support our military and that time is now.

I also want to share with you a email sent to me by a friend, what follows should touch all of us:

The Shelby County Alabama Legislative Delegation hosted a "Stand Up for America Rally." More than 1,200 people attended including featured speakers Chief Justice Roy Moore, Adjutant General Mark Bowen and Alabama State Auditor Beth Chapman.

Attached is a copy of Mrs. Chapman's speech, which resulted in five standing ovations, tremendous applause and an encore

Stand Up for America Rally Speech By: Beth Chapman

"I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States military have given their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or musicians, but the United States Military who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of Normandy. Tonight, I say we should support the President of the United States and the U.S. Military and tell the liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and music and whine somewhere else.

After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the freedom of speech they're being given here today. Ironically, they would be put to death at the hands of Sadam Husssein or Osama Bin Laden. I want to know how the very people who are against war because of the loss of life, can possibly be the same people who are for abortion?

They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the rights of the unborn. The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human shields" for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go.

No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate more is the fact that this country has been forced into war-innocent people have lost their lives - - and there but for the grace of God, it could have been my brother, my husband, or even worse my own son.

On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the blazing waters of Pearl Harbor.

On September 11, 2001; there are no photos of movie stars standing as "human shields" against the debris and falling bodies ascending from the World Trade Center. There were only policemen and firemen - -underpaid civil servants who gave their all with nothing expected in return.

When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the ship - - where were the human shields then?

If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield the gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City, let them shield the lives of the children of North Birmingham whose mothers lay them down to sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from stray bullets.

If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men and women of honesty and integrity that epitomizes courage and embody the spirit of freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States Military. Those are the people who have earned and deserve shielding!

Throughout the course of history, this country has remained free, not because of movie stars and liberal activists, but because of brave men and women who hated war too. However, they lay down their lives so that we all may live in freedom. After all - "What greater love hath no man,
that he lay down his life for his friend," or in this case a country.

We should give our military honor and acknowledgement and not let their lives be in vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk through Arlington Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes, and the BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and talk about being a human
shield - they were human shields.

I thank God tonight for freedom - - those who bought and paid for it with their lives in the past - - those who will protect it in the present and defend it in the future.

America has remained silent too long! God-fearing people have remained silent too long!

We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to God for guidance and the strength and courage to sustain us throughout whatever the future may hold.

After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my then eleven -year-old son said terrorism is a war against them and us and if you're not one of us, then you're one of them.

So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us stand proud, and let us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support for the President, our troops and their families and our country.

May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the greatest country on the face of this earth"!

I say AMEN!

There will come a time of lasting peace, of real peace; but only with the coming of our Lord. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying behold the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear form their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain, the first things have passed away."

Something to look forward to! It’s coming but now we must deal with evil that wishes to destroy us. Yes, war is ugly, but there is a time for war, and a time for peace. Now we have war, we will have peace.

In the interim, let’s make the best of what we have and let’s be deeply appreciative for our troops.

-Joe Kirkpatrick

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